The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-01
The Romance of a Ring.
From the Pittsburq Dispatch


A pawnbroker sat in the rear room and
unused. Nobody could blame him for thus
idllng his time away, for it was Sunday,
and there was absolutely nothing for the
poor man to do but sit and muse. He had
been to church in the morning. He ex-
pected to go again in the evening, so the
weight of sins unatOned did not press heavily
on his soul. On the contrary, he was light
hearted and happy. So much so that when
a reporter wandered into his coy quarters
the general, self-satisfied expression on his
countenance spread into smile of hearty
welcome
am glad you don't want me to advance
you anything on your overcoat," said he,
because never do business on Sunday, |
guess | can tell you something about the
trade, though, if that's all YOU want. Peo-
pie usually think that our business is brisk
est in dull times That's mi ghty mistaken
idea, and III tell you why. When person
pawns anything he generally expects TO
redeem it at some future time, and if he is
not employed he does not like to run the
risk of forfeiting his goods. If, on the con-
trary, he Is making good salary, he is very
apt TO 1--we trihe higher than he ought 1t
is these that go to the pawnbroker for help.
Our principal pawning days are Mondays,
and on Saturdays we are kept busy redeem
ing. Every pawnbroker has number of
regular customers who, early in the week
bring a watch or ring, or some other valu-
able, around and raise little cash on it.
On Friday or Saturday the article is re-
deemed. and the next week the operation is
repeated.
speaking of rings reminds me Of an en-
gagement that was almost broken off a
couple of months ago. The young lady in
the case lves-well, in this city. She is
very fond of base ball-so fond in fact
that she watched the games very closely
| last season. and had bet or two on every
one of them. The first part of the season
she won, but along about August she COM
menced to lose. Her pocket money went to
| pay her losses, and when that was gone she
| commenced to pawn her valuables. Her
watch was brought to me first, but her
| father missed that. and she had to redeem
it the next day or be found out. Then she
| pawned set of ear-drops, and finally she
| brought me a diamond ring. which | no
ticed she took off the first finger of her left
hand. / suspected she was gambling, and
| hesitated about taking the ring; but she
answered me she wanted only a little money
TO pay bill, and would be able to redeem
it in a few days.
Il guess it was about a week later when
she pushed into my shop again She was
very much excited, and knew something
was wrong. AS soon as she could get her
breath she pulled her watch out and wanted
to know II ! woulo accept 1t in exchange for
her ring. / knew her family very WELL so
| told her that l would not accommodate
her unless she told me what was the matter.
She refused at first, but finally she came TO
terms and told me the whole story. The
ring was her engagement ring.
Her lover had been away, but he had
| come home suddenly, and had missed the
little golden pledge of their engagement
the first thing. She had satisfied him by
saying she had left it on her washstand, but
that excuse wouldn't work more than once,
so she had to have the ring or confess, and
confession would mean war. Wal, | gave
h,r the ring, and let her keep the watch,
to-. She quit betting, and a week later
paid me all she owed me- A couple of
weeks ago she was married, and l am in
clined to think she is a better wife than she
wouu be if she hadn't learned that little
lesson on pamblinp